Display device with automatically acting support



March 4, 1958 I c. N. CROSS I 2,825,516

DISPLAY DEVICE WITH AUTOMATICALLY ACTING SUPPORT v Filed Nov. 25, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 4, 1958 l I I I I l l l I 5 ET l l 1.- I l DISPLAY DEVICE 'WITH AUTOMATICALLY ACTING SUPPORT Filed Nov. 25, 1953 l uvoNa-wo P/C TURF United S'tates Patent:

$25,516 DISPLAY DEVICE AUTDMATICALLY ACTING SUPPORT Carroll N. Cross, Taunton, Mass. Application November 25, 1953, Serial No. 394,377

6 Claims. (Cl. 248-35) This invention relates to a display device having a 'support collapsible relative thereto which when erected will support the member with its display fa'ce in upright position on a horizontal surface. The primary and coordinate objects of the invention 'are to supply a `structure wherein on erection `of the support by a simple moving apart of the saine and 'the supported portion the former will be automatically locked in the expanded position from which, however, the two parts are automatically released by 'a like simple collapsing movement, and

'to provide a structure wherein such locking mechanism i`s organized interiorly of the external Vfaces of both parts VVs'o that not only is the structure neat and attractive in :both *its collapsed and erected position, but both ofsuch v'e'xterided faces may be utilized for display purposes throughout their area, since they are not interrupted' or marred by any impairment of the continuity thereof or Vprojection beyond them because of the presence of the locking construction.

My inventionl will he 'well understood by reference to the following description 'of a 'preferred embodiment vthereof where it is shown organized as a desk calendar.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective of the calendar in use;

Fig. 2 is an inside plan view of the same, unfolded, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section 'of the device in :'Fig. l 'in 'collapsed position, the thickness of the parts shown fin section being much exaggerated;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing itin erected position; Fig. 5 is an interior plan View with parts broken away,

showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is an exterior plan View of the same'devicegiand Fig. 7 is va fragmentaryv view looking at the' interior 'face of the back panel from a sectioning plane immediately forward of said face when the parts shown in Figs. 5 and 6 `are in an erected position similar to that of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the desk calendar shown 'in Figs. 1-4, it embodies a front panel F having hinged thereto at its upper edge a back panel B preferably identicd in size, the two being related as are the covers of a book, and when the two panels are partially opened out they may stand on the free edges opposite the hinge line thereof in the position shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 4, and they may be shut together like a book to the closed position of Fig. k3.

Herein we are more particularly concerned with internally organized means which, when the hinge members are opened from the position of Fig. 3 serves automati- 'cally to limit the extent of the opening movement as in Fig. 4, but which `will also permit the return movement without manipulation of such means. The words front and back as herein used are to an extent arbritrary as will further appear from this specification..

rItis contemplated that thestructure will be made up from boards and flexible material. By boards vis meant material `s uch as cardboard or binders board of Considerable thickness and rigidity as contrasted with Vtransmitted in an envelope.

ICE

freely flexible, more or less limp, material such as cloth, ornamental papers, imitation leather, and so on, which will herein be referred to as sheet material.

A preferred detailed construction of the device of Fig. 1 is illustrated in Fig. 2. Herein a pair of boards 10 and 12, of like size, are superposed as are a similar pair 14 and 16, and placed with two adjacent edges slightly spacedV as indicated at 18 on a sheet of flexible material 20 which has previously been coated with glue. The edges of the sheet material are folded up and around the edges of the boards and sealed to the opposite faces thereof, which are toward the reader viewing Fig. 2, and which are the internal faces of the completed structure. `As a result there is formed a folio the two sides of which, F and B, are formed by two boards, disconnected throughout their contacting faces but united by the covering which bridges three edges of each pair and hingedly connected by the covering material spanning the space 18.

The exterior front board 10 with its covering may be consideredY `a display surface and may have attached theretov or incorporated therewith a calendar pad 24, so marked -in Fig. 1. Herein (see particularly Fig. 2) there may be 'cut from the exterior front board 10, by means lof a suitable die, an area 26 which when removed provides in the board a well to receive the calendar pad, which .is retained Vtherein by the corner fillets shown behind which it is slipped. The partly finished blank spread out `in the position of Fig. 3 may also have, died out from the interior front board 12, a tongue Sti hinging on a weakened line 32 and 'extending from that line toward the hinge joint betweenthe two panels. The distal end portion 34 of this tongue is hinged to theV main body Yof the .tongue on a weakened line 35, permitting 'it to fold relatively to the main body of the tongue. From 'the interior 'back board 16 is'die'd out and removed an areaprovidingfa slot or opening 36 giving access Vto the space between' Ithe interior and exterior boards 16 Tand la, -and through which the tongue may be extended' to move intofth'at space. Herein also a short tab 38 projects 'from the lower 'side of slot 36 and the tongue has `a clearance siot 39to receive the tab, the slot 139 being located at the proximal side of line 35 for a purpose whichwill appear.

When the parts have been thus prepared the tongue 3i) may be lifted, the front and back panels swungV tow-ard the closed position and the tongue inserted inthe slot 36. When the closing movement is completed theft'on'gue will slide up into the space 'between the interior rear board 416 andthe exterior rear board 14 in the Vmanner illustrated in Fig. 2 and the entire structure lies flat. ln this position it is ready for distribution to the user and fit may be The exterior surfaces of the two vpanels may be decorated or printed lupon-1in :any desired manner when the blank is extended'in the flat form of Fig. 2, and as received by the userinthe closed position of Fig. 3 attractive exterior surfaces effectively integral throughout the area are exposed. Display matter may be printed on the covering sheet in the areaiof the back panel B which indicates Ithe fact already stated, that the distinction between the front and back `is arbitrary.

Now when the user receives the folio in the position of Fig. 3, he has only to open it as a book would be opened. The tongue will tend to slide out from vthe slot, but as it reaches the position of Fig. 4 the terminal portion 34 thereof will bend about the line 3S and form a stop restraining further opening rmovement unless a considerable force is applied. The main -body ofthe tongue then acts as a stay, tying together theangularly `disposed panels.

's'lot'39` already described. When the 'tongue 34 is iuser'te'd 36 and slidesup'to the Vposition shown in 'Figf 3,y theY tab'takes a position over the slot 39V and ex-` j tends into the same, and A.when the partsY are separated toward the positionshownA in Fig. IAgthe twohpapts on ieither side of.,the`"s1lot 39 swingup lo 'oppositefsides of the tab sothat Ythejpull'of, the tongue-inthe.erectedV positionV of .the parts is againsthe. bakffofjtheitabf VThe j parts howeverV may fstill Vbe separatedijmoreparticularly Y bs/.meansofaquickierkw Y -Y u Referring to Figs. 1s andZ Vofthe drawings; itwill'be j seen that Inhave there shownY the interior'rsurfaces'rof the V*panels as covered by a liner 22,Yfhavin^gruled lines thereon. *Such* a'A tabularrforni,l whether `formed bygaY liner or on the interior faces of the interiorbdards themselves,

maybe usedv to Vreceive inscriptions,Y for example; fnota- Vtions `concerning telephonenumbers'YWhile suchV inscriptions couldvbe readV whenfthe'deviceis erected into -Ythe position vof Fig. Y1- if the -device werebodily lifted and examined Yfr'onthejbottom, it Ywouldof cour-se not be i convenient to YmakeY inscriptions ule'ss Y the two parts could be opened outand spread at'Thearrangements *Y described permit this Yto be donewhilerpreventing casual separation. Y 'Y Y On the'other'hand, ifit is desired'to leepthe'partsV l from being Vmoved past the positionof Fig; 1 except as `the result of a very considerable manipulation, the arrangementY-shown in Figs. 5 and 6y may -be adopted, in i whichthe slot 36 has a dovetailed tab Y38a with an en-w Y larged head and a narrow neck. The clearance slot 39a,`

to receive the tab, has an enlarged proximalfportion throughwhich the head 'of theltab may pass, but adjacent the fold line itnarrowsso that the neck of the tab may pass into the end of the slot and with the over-y hanging portions ofthe head.beneath theportionsof the tongueat either side of the slot. Since the Ytongue cannot move down from the plane of the top of slot 34 its.distal end cannot be jerked `out fromits .position between theVV exterior Yand interior boards 14 .and 16. In preparing the parts originally, howevenfthe end Yofv Y the tongue 30 may be simply slid in behind the dovetailed Vtab 38a and the latterV will find its. position'in th slot 39a when the partsare first opened.

Y In'the modification ,of Figs.; 1 through 4 the Vcovered n exterior rear panelr14l is anunbroken element forming, .Y

withV its covering, .the rear exterior face of the device. Provided,,howeverrthatgmaterial vis incorporated in the Yrear panel'to cover overthe tongue 3 4 as itrmoves over the rear interior board 16 and, at leastin'the space Vopposite the tongue, is'kof sucientstiffness to guide the tongue and confine it in that space, other means Y.of diss play may be organizedY in the Aparts of the nrear panel corresponding to the exterior board 14. example is shownin Figs. V5 and 6. Y

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, in theser figuresA the partsV are generally similar to those `in 'Fig 2 except that, `as

seen in Figs. 5 and 6, an area .ofthe exterior rear panel Ys died out by a .rectangular cut which area, when lifted Y out, provides the sight opening .40 behind which may be received a picture v42 or mirror, or some similar device for display, which inFig'. 6 -is shown in the intermediate stage of being inserted. To permit this insertion a portion of the interior rear panel 16 maybev cutto form a ap 44 by a three-sided incision, theiends `of which extend to the edge of the board so as to provide a hinge forrthe ap to the adjacent board-14-byYthe covering material bridgingthe edges of Ythe Ytwo boards.- The liap may be swung outwardly as shownin Fig. 6, to provide an entry to the space between the boards through 'which' the picture 42 may be slid intoYplace behind the sight opening 40V in the-mannerillustrated in'Frig'. 6.Y The ap `then may be reclosed and neatly fills the `opening Yfrom 'Y which `it was lifted;

. Since in the`construction described the opening 40 i formed inthe exterior rear boardextends over the posi--V tion of the tongue 30 when the latter-is slid Vin beneath the interior board as in Fig. 3,'thel picture 421er other insert should have suflicient stiffness toinYeffect reestab- Y Y lish the board at this area. It has been found thatcardY y of the type used in souvenir'postal cards will be adequate i; Y

for an opening about three inchesV high and supported by a substantial overlap of the margin of thesight opening at the fourrsides, alth'ough,. hl'e will be` some bending Y. Y

ineidentto'the openingfand closing of the device. Y

-lfY the Vpicture is placed with its 'top toward thehinge Y line,`it is presentedright side, up to an observer looking at the baci; of the structure whose position is as in'Figl.

YIf he prefers to-'look atY. the picture rather ,than` the.

calendar,;.-orif-the calendar` were omitted, then the picture bearing lpanelwo'uld be considered the frontV and in that position.

when liftedhinges on the covering material bridging `the adjacent edges of the frontand rearvboards and may be swungout to the dotted line position of Fig; 5to formavr hanger.

Y '.While inthe examples illustrated-and described it isV not/literally correct Yto say that thefront and-rear. exterior faces as shown inY Fig. 1 are unbrokembecause inthe case of" the frontface, when thecalendar is put Y in a recess as above described, it is broken Yto-aecommodate the same and when one Yor more openings ,are

provided in board 16 for display materiales in Fig. -6r

the rear face'is broken. However, for practical purposes .the' continuity of the surfaces isv reintegrated soV that' we have effectively integral display surfacesatthe frontand rear exterior faces between which and beneath which the.

supporting mechanism exempliiiedibythe, tongue 30; and

the slot 36 are received. No portion of the Ytongueprojects 'f beyond these surfaces. Y On account ofthe limitations o a patent drawing the thickness of the boardsandg'of vthe covering materialY is Y shown disproportionately `large .in Figsf3 andY4;Y ,Thus Fig. Y1Y represents a device with panels F YandB about 6 inches wide andfSs/s inches high.VV The boardsrus'ed therein are about 4A@ ofan inch thick and the covering .i

material 20a `few thousandths. f r.

I ame aware Ythat the invention maybeYY-embodied'in i Y other specific forms without departing Yfrom'the spiritor essential .attributes thereof, and I therefore desire Ythe Y present embodiment to be considered in all respects, as

f illustrative'and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several mattersfrom the description itself.. Reference is to kbe Y 'Y had to the, appended'claims to indicate thoseYprinciples of the inventionexemplied by the particular 'embodimentV i described, and whichl desire Vto secureYbyLetters Patent. i

VWhatV is claimed is: n.

1. A display .device having Ya display panel member and a supporting member hinged .thereto alongfa hori-Y,` zontalA axis providing a supporting leg when the mem-,7,

bes are swung apart, a tongue of stiif material hingedto oneYmember on an axisrraparallel tothe aforesaid and of a .length to lie liatwiseV therewithand within the,V perimeters'thereof when the members are closed, the othermember including in the areaYopposite said tongue super posed inner and outer plies defining a space therebetween and having an opening to vsaid Yspace in'thefinner'ply through which opening said tongue is extended .into said space when theYmembersare closed together, said tongueV including a hingeddistal end portion 'bendablerangularly to the main body of the tongue and retained in said space as said main 'body' is the members. .i Y Y Y 2.In a display devicehavingaY display panel member withdrawn in Vopening movement of and a supporting member hinged thereto along a horizontal axis providing a supporting leg when the members are swung apart, a tongue of stiff material hinged to one member on an axis parallel to the aforesaid axis and including a distal bendable end portion, said other member including in the area opposite said tongue superposed inner and outer plies delining a tongue-receiving space therebetween, said inner ply being formed with a tongue-receiving opening for insertion of said tongue into said space, said opening being located below said bendable distal end portion of the tongue when said members are closed, and said tongue extending through said opening into said space when the members are closed together, and the bendable distal end portion being angularly bent with respect to its body by the walls defining said space as said tongue Vis withdrawn during opening movement of said members.

3. A display device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a tab extends from a side of the opening and the tongue has a clearance slot terminating at the line of bend of said end portion, through which slot the tab extends when the members are moved apart.

4. A display device as set forth in claim l wherein a tab having an enlarged head extends from a side of the opening and the tongue has a slot the proximal portion of which is of a size to pass said head and which terminates at the line of bend of the distal portion in a nartower part which fits around the neck of the tab beneath the head thereof.

5. A display device comprising a panel incorporating two superposed boards, a supporting member hinged to a supporting leg when the members are swung apart, the

leg having a tongue of stiff material hinged to said supporting member on an axis parallel to the aforesaid axis and of a length to lie atwise with the parts when they are closed together and within the permimeters thereof, the board nearer said tongue having an opening receiving the end of the same and the board further from the tongue presenting a surface over which the tongue may slide in the closing movement of the structure, there being a tab extending from the side of the opening, the tongue having a clearance slot terminating adjacent to but spaced from the extremity of the tongue through which slot said tab extends when the members are moved apart.

6. A display device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the tab has an enlarged head and the slot has a proximal portion which is of a size to pass the head and terminates in a narrower part which ts around the neck of the tab beneath the head thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 9,281 Wright July 6, 1880 843,210 Hoag Feb. 5, 1907 1,046,786 Herbst Dec. 10, 1912 1,407,497 Sussman Feb. 2l, 1922 2,298,897 Myers Oct. 13, 1942 2,409,347 Dootson Oct. l5, 1946 2,563,357 Nichols Aug. 7, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,501 Denmark Nov. 1, 1943 13,412 Great Britain June 24, 1908 246,147 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1947 

